The Lockerbie paper trail - four key moments

"Death in custody would be akin to a death sentence without the benefit of a court and that 'they want a way out'."

Scottish note of letter from Abdulati Alobidi, Libya's Europe minister, in meeting attended by Sir Vincent Fean, the British ambassador to Libya, and Robert Gordon, director general of the Scottish justice and communities department

18 November 2008

"Mr Obidi indicated that the situation was bad for relations between the UK and Libya. It would be a major problem should Mr Megrahi die in prison, and would be viewed as a form of death sentence. This would hold even if he were to be granted compassionate release just before death. Mr Obidi stressed his government's respect for the Scottish jurisdiction, but noted that we are faced with a human situation. His principal concern was for relations between the two countries."

Scottish note of meeting attended by Robert Gordon and other Scottish officials in Glasgow

22 January 2009

"Mr Obidi … noted that Mr Megrahi's death in a Scottish prison would be bad for Islamic, Arab and Libyan opinion, and bad for the relationship between Libya and the UK"

Scottish note of meeting between Libyan and Scottish officials in Glasgow

Analysis

Tripoli wanted to leave both the UK and Scottish governments in no doubt of the gravity of allowing the man convicted of the Lockerbie bomb to die in jail. It did this in two key ways: warning that this would be akin to a "death sentence" and making clear that the wider Islamic world would be angered.

2 Gordon Brown and David Miliband reportedly agree that Megrahi should not die in prison

12 March 2009

Mr Alobidi spoke of Mr Bill Rammell's visit to Tripoli in February and that they had discussed the matter of the PTA. Mr Alobidi confirmed that he had reiterated to Mr Rammell that the death of Mr Megrahi in a Scottish prison would have catastrophic effects for the relationship between Libya and the UK. Mr Alobidi went on to say that Mr Rammell had stated that neither the prime minister nor the foreign secretary would want Mr Megrahi to pass away in prison but the decision on transfer lies in the hands of Scottish ministers."

Scottish notes of meeting between Libyan and Scottish officials in Glasgow. Bill Rammell is a minister of state in the Foreign Office and the PTA is the Anglo-Libyan prisoner transfer agreement

Analysis

This is the most significant detail to emerge from the scores of documents released yesterday. It raises questions about Gordon Brown's central explanation over the past 10 days – that Megrahi's status was a matter entirely for Edinburgh. The document shows that Bill Rammell, then a foreign office minister, told the Libyan authorities in February this year that neither the prime minister nor the foreign secretary wanted Megrahi to die in a Scottish jail. It took the UK government the best part of two hours yesterday to respond – and then it did not deny this central claim.

3 UK government U-turn over Anglo-Libyan prisoner transfer agreement

"I have noted your preference for an exclusion clause that would apply not just to al-Megrahi but to anyone convicted of involvement in the Lockerbie bombing. I agree with your proposal. My officials will therefore seek to amend the draft agreement."

Letter to Kenny MacAskill, Scottish justice secretary

19 December 2007

Jack Straw, the justice secretary, says Megrahi should be included in the prisoner transfer agreement

"I had previously accepted the importance of the al-Megrahi issue to Scotland and said I would try to get an exclusion for him on the face of the agreement. I have not been able to secure an explicit exclusion ...The wider negotiations with the Libyans are reaching a critical stage and in view of the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom I have agreed that in this instance the PTA should be in the standard form and not mention any individual."

Letter to MacAskill

Analysis

The exchange of letters between Jack Straw, the justice secretary, and his Scottish counterpart, Kenny MacAskill, confirm that Britain reversed a decision to prevent Megrahi from being transferred to Libya. Straw was open with MacAskill: the decision was made to strengthen Britain's relations with Libya

4 UK government explains the reason for the U-turn

11 February 2008

"Developing a strong relationship with Libya, and helping it to reintegrate into the international community, is good for the UK. From your statements in the Scottish parliament and in the public domain, I understand that you share the desire of the UK government to develop better relations with Libya. Libya is one of only two countries to have ever voluntarily and transparently dismantled its weapons of mass destruction programme. Having sponsored terrorist attacks in the past, it is now an important partner in the fight against terrorism. Libya is in a key position to help stem the flow of illegal migrants to the EU and the UK."

Jack Straw's letter to Alex Salmond

Analysis

London will regard this letter from Straw to the Scottish first minister, Alex Salmond, as one of the most significant documents released yesterday. It shows that there was no business or oil deal over Megrahi because it makes clear that political considerations – normalising relations with Libya after its decision to abandon WMD – are uppermost in ministers' minds in discussions with Tripoli.